Ecologically based hybrid life cycle analysis of continuously reinforced concrete and hot-mix asphalt pavements

An ecologically-based hybrid life cycle assessment model is used to evaluate the resource consumption and atmospheric emissions of continuously reinforced concrete and a hot-mix asphalt pavements. The cumulative mass and ecological resource consumption values are lower for continuously reinforced concrete, but the median values of cumulative energy and industrial energy consumption were lower for hot-mix asphalt. In addition, the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement results in a higher sensitivity for the ecological resource consumption of hot-mix asphalt compared to that of fly ash when use on the natural capital utilization of continuously reinforced concrete pavement. The cumulative and industrial exergy consumption values are significantly reduced with increases in reclaimed asphalt pavement and fly ash, and the use of low fuel transportation modes.

► An ecologically-based hybrid LCA model is used to examine the environmental impacts of different road pavement composition.
► The cumulative mass and ecological resource consumption values were lower for continuously reinforced concrete pavement.
► The median values of cumulative energy and industrial exergy consumption were lower for hot-mix asphalt pavements.
► The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement results in a higher variability in results compared to that associated with fly ash use.